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Celebrating the release of my first book! A Video, A Chocolate cake & Two Giveaways!

April 26, 2011

"Thank You"...

I have written and erased the first sentence of this post fifty times it seems.It makes me smile a little considering the number of sentences I started and erased fifty times more since last November. The best one I could think about today was "Thank you".

I have thought a few times about this week. Right here. Right now. The week when my first book, "Plate To Pixel. Digital Food Photography & Styling" is out into the world. From November to March, it was the hard work of a team that did not stop until it was right. This week the book is yours. Ours.

Wow... it still is just barely sinking in. Once the book in my hands, it took a full 24 hours for my shoulders to relax and a smile to timidly cross my lips. Then as I was standing there in the rain with Bailey, that smile grew to a stupidly wide expression of gratitude and excitement.

I bolted back inside to Taylor who was getting his video equipment together and said "let's do this! Let's show people how awesome food photography can be with a little help from a friend!"

I come from a family of crafters. My dad is a published author and a painter. My mom designs frames for other people's art. My brother Arnaud is constantly building and crafting objects and toys. My brother Thierry was a talented photographer. Writing this book feels a bit like my way of contributing to the family DNA!!

I loved working on this book so much! I wrote it with you in mind. And you is a lot of people with different likes and dislikes, different ways to go about life. But we all have the same goal. Take pictures of food and have a wonderful experience doing it.

Whether you need just a little push, a lot of help or just reinforcement that you are on the right track. I compiled information, hands-on visuals of bouncing, diffusing, white balances, exposures, depth of field, ... Composition and styling techniques, equipment setup so you can see the full how-tos of a picture, step by step styling demos...and the list goes on!

I will be doing fun giveaways in the coming weeks to express my thanks for your support and kind words these past few months and your enthusiasm these past few days. But today is especially awesome to celebrate the release of the book. There won't be one lucky person but three!

- I am giving away 2 signed copies of Plate To Pixel and a little surprise inside...- my super talented friend Asya from gleena.com who is the artist behind the numbered ceramic plates I love to use here, is giving away four white ceramic dessert plates numbered 1 through 4 (like the ones in the picture below)

All you have to do is leave a comment here between today, April 26th 2011 and Friday April 29th 2011, midnight Eastern time. Guidelines: one entry per person, no anonymous comment, leave 24hrs for your name to appear in giveaway as I manually moderate entries.

Prepare the cake:Preheat oven to 325F. Butter one deep 9-inch round baking pans, sprinkle some rice flour into the pans, shake it around and tap the excess off. Line the bottoms with one 9-inch circle of parchment paper. Set aside.In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until light and creamy. On low speed, add the cocoa and mix until incorporated. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape the bowl with a spatula to make sure they are properly mixed in. Add the flours, baking powder, coffee powder and baking soda and mix on medium-low speed while slowly adding the warm water and mix until smooth. Pour the batter in the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool to room temperature and unmold the cake. Divide in three horizontally.

Prepare the chocolate ganache:Place the chocolate and salt in a non reactive bowl and set aside. In a heavy bottom saucepan set over high heat, bring the cream to almost boiling (really hot basically!). When hot, pour it over the chocolate and salt. Let stand for 5 minutes before slowly whisking the mixture to bring it together to a smooth and silky ganache. If it's not completely smooth, return to very low heat for a few seconds to melt the chocolate some more. Brands vary so this step may be necessary if the chocolate is not completely melted.

To assemble the cake:Let stand the ganache about 15-20 minutes so it is thick enough to apply between the layers of chocolate cake. Leave about 1 to 1.5 cups for the top and sides and set and slightly warm it up a bit so it spreads more easily.

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comments:

I got my copy of your book yesterday, and it was all I could do to not sit down and read the whole thing right there. :) Hope I'm not too greedy since I already have a copy, but a signed copy (and those beautiful plates!) would be so much better.

Yay! Congrats Helen, you deserve it!! I already bought your book and it's coming in the mail in a few days and can't wait, but I would LOVE to have a signed copy as you are one of my main inspirations. Thanks for all your teachings and recipes!!!!!!

I have my copy of your book on its way to me already, but if I win the giveaway I could give mine to a friend and keep yours. And the plates are sooo pretty! ;)That is, in case the giveaway is open to people who live outside of the US (I'm in Cyprus). Anyways, I just wanted to say: Congratulations! I can't wait to read your book!

Oh my goodness! I've been waiting in anticipation for this book to come out! I'm head over heals in love with your photography and blog, and I am so excited to delve into all the information you give in your book. Hopefully, I can be even half the photographer you are some day.

Congratulations!!! I watched the video you posted and love seeing the Charleston Farmer's Market in there. (Of course I was looking for anyone in the background I might know! :)) I can't wait to see your new book.

"Wow, I want to eat this!", "Wow, I want to cooked this!" :))) When I get a bad mood its enough for me to see Your photos and day becomes brighter, smells of warmth and coziness. Thank YOU and congratulations!

I'm usually a lurker, but for a chance to win a copy of your lovely book or those plates... :) I really enjoyed the video, and it looks like the book will be just what I've been looking for to help me improve my food photography! Congratulations!

Many congratulations on your wonderful book! It must be such a proud moment for you. :) Ever since I've found you online all I can think of every time I visit your blog is "I wanna be just like that when I grow up.." although I am already grown up .. :). Now, with this book...I am so eager to get it that I can't even tell you. I hope it will be on Bookdepository as well since that's where I can easily buy international books. I don't know if your giveaway is open internationally, so I don't dare dream that I could win this...I just wanted to congratulate you and tell you that I am extremely glad the book will finally be available!:)Kisses from Romania. :)Diana

This looks wonderful! I am so thankful for having such a great gluten-free recipe site. It has helped me out so much these last couple of months as I've gotten used to this new lifestyle. Congrats on your book!

I am so excited to receive your book this week! The idea of becoming a food photographer had crossed my mind but when I was looking for the 'how to' there was so much information out there, I was overwhelmed. My friend Jackie Basia posted the link to your book on her facebook and I didn't hesitate to head over to Amazon for a copy. I know I won't be disappointed and am looking forward to actually getting started photographing food. Merci beaucoup Helene!

Congratulations on the release of your book! I tried to order it from Book Depository as I am now in Italy but it isn't in stock yet here apparently. I thoroughly enjoyed your class in Orlando and am trying to look at my food photos a little differently now after learning from you. I'd LOVE a signed copy of your book! :>)

Helene! Congratulations! Taylor made a wonderful video and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Plate To Pixel. I learned so much in your class and I'm sure your book is filled with even more wonderful tips. Congrats again Helene, your first book is an awesome milestone!

I am so excited to get my hands on a copy of your book! I'm at that point where I think I need to take a leap in my food photography, and with the help of great bloggers like you, I think I'll be successful.

Helen, congratulations! I have been so inspired by your beautiful work - and sense of humor. I heard you speak at BlogHer Food in SF and have been enjoying your blog ever since. Congrats again on your (first) book. jl

Helene, I've been reading your blog for a long time. I felt an almost personal pride reading this post and great excitement about the book. (Ordered!) As a writer and former pastry chef I've followed with admiration how you've combined your interests and skills so artfully. I was never that drawn to food photography--it always seemed too slick and fancy--until I discovered different aesthetics and voices like yours, which speaks especially to my love of rustic, nature-inspired pastry. Your work so gracefully evokes the sweetness, and sometimes the sadness, of making and sharing food. Thank you for your inspiration, and heartfelt congratulations.

Congratulations on your book! Those plates are absolutely precious and that cake looks incredibly decadent :) I hope one day to be as talented and have a book published as well, but for now I'll just blog :)

I love to bake and I love photography yet I have not been able to merge the two (a lot of blurry cupcake photos posted to Facebook intended to make family and friends drool, but elicit more of a huh? response) so I cannot wait for your book. I also plan a trip into the world of macarons (I am so scared). Thank you

Congrats on your new book! Such a labour of love. Thank you for your blog, my Mom and a few friends have recently discovered the causes of their discomfort and your blog has helped everyone. I have even tweeked your recipes to accomidate my sugar-free Dad.

this is beyond exciting, helene! i loved the video. you are such an inspiration to me. i would love a signed copy of your book. i can't wait to meet you in person this next weekend. i'm counting down my days. :)

Congratulations for your first book!!! It was an awesome idea to write a book about food photographing ;) I'm subscribing your blog for a few months now, mostly because of wonderful pictures. I love baking and cooking ans I'm always searching for new inspirations from abroad ;) I'm trying to always make a photo, and frankly - I know now that's not an easy task, even if you are good at photographing... And your photos here on the blog and on your website are so inspiring to try harder and make better photos ;) So I would love to find Your book in my mail/post box :DAlex from Polandtetydamail-alex(at)yahoo(dot)plPS. Your friend Asya makes beautiful things :D

I'm so excited!!! I have been waiting for this book since you announced it! Your little video is brilliant and beautiful and I love what you said at the end about how we all see and do things differently and the book isn't about changing that. I'm dying to produce the shots that makes the viewer hungry, just like yours do for me.

This is so great! Congratulations to you, Helen. In any case I will get your book, as you have been an inspiration to me in so many ways for the past 18 months since I discovered your blog! I recently started to take photos of what I cook/bake (my passion is baking) and it's not that easy...;-)Thank You!

Oh wow! Congratulations, it is hard to believe that the time has arrived. I am looking forward to delving in, whether I win or support you by purchasing one.

I have just convinced myself to commit to a DSLR, as film is becoming harder and harder for me to find and process, it would be great to brush up on my skills at the same time as I learn what life is like with my first SLR younger than me!